WASHINGTON: A person in Missouri has tested positive for bird flu without any known exposure to infected animals, marking the first case of its kind in the United States, authorities said on Friday.
The person, who has underlying health conditions, was admitted to a hospital on August 22, received antiviral treatment, and has since recovered and been discharged, according to statements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
The case was initially flagged due to suspicious results on a preliminary flu test. Subsequent testing by state and federal laboratories confirmed the presence of the H5 strain of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. The CDC has reported that there has been no evidence of transmission to the patient’s close contacts or other persons.
The emergence of this case has heightened concerns among scientists and health officials, who are increasingly worried about the potential for the virus to spread among mammals and possibly mutate into a form that could be transmitted between humans.
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said, “It is encouraging that the national disease surveillance system has identified this case, that the patient received antiviral treatment, and that no further cases have been detected among close contacts. However, it is crucial that investigations into the patient’s exposure continue to inform future prevention and response efforts.”
The Missouri Department of Health noted that while some H5 cases have been reported in commercial and backyard flocks, as well as wild birds, there have been no reported cases of H5 infection in dairy cattle within the state. This case represents the 14th bird flu infection in the US this year and the first instance where a human has tested positive without a known link to animal sources.
Bird flu, primarily found in wild birds and poultry, can occasionally infect humans through close contact or contaminated environments. The CDC acknowledges that circumstances can change rapidly as more information becomes available.
